ISLAMIC REFORMISM in the NETHERLANDS EAST INDIES: the ROLE and THOUGHT of Cabd ALLĀH B
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ISLAMIC REFORMISM IN THE NETHERLANDS EAST INDIES: THE ROLE AND THOUGHT OF cABD ALLĀH B. cALAWĪ B. cABD ALLĀH AL-cATTĀS (1844-1929) BY ALWI ALATAS requirements for the degree of Master of Human Sciences (History and Civilization) Kulliyyah of Islamic Revealed Knowledge and Human Sciences International Islamic University Malaysia NOVEMBER 2007 ABSTRACT The Purpose of this study is to examine the thought and role of Sayyid cAbd Allah b. cAlawi al-cAttas (1844-1929) in the Netherlands East Indies and with particular emphasis on his financial and intellectual contributions to the development of Islamic reformism in the region. This study is based on a variety of primary and secondary source that enabled the researcher to highlight various aspects of Sayyid cAbd Allāh’s life and career, and his involvement in intellectual Islamic discourse that took place in the 19th and the first part of the twenties centuries. A Historical and textual analysis method was adopted by the researcher so as to examine the sources of the study, and put the contributions of Sayyid cAbd Allah in their historical context. The overall output of the study is that the case of Sayyid cAbd Allah offers a better understanding of the features of the 19th and 20th century Islamic reformism, and the roles of the Hadhrami community in disseminating the idea of islāh and tajdīd in the Netherlands East Indies. It also paves the way for further biographical works on the distinguished figures of the Hadhrami community who remarkably contributed to the spread of Islamic reformism in the Malay world. ii 4191 4411 iii ABSTRAK Kajian ini bertujuan untuk mengkaji pemikiran dan peranan Sayyid cAbd Allāh b. cAlawī al-cAttās (1844-1929) di Hindia Belanda (Indonesia) dan secara khususnya menekankan pada sumbangan keuangan serta intelektual yang diberikan terhadap perkembangan pembaharuan Islam di wilayah tersebut. Kajian ini didapati dari berbagai sumber primer dan sekunder yang memungkinkan pengkaji untuk menjelaskan berbagai aspek kehidupan dan perjalanan karier Sayid cAbd Allāh, serta penglibatannya di dalam diskusi intelektual yang berlaku pada abad ke-19 dan awal abad ke-20. Metod analisis teks dan sejarah digunakan oleh pengkaji untuk mengkaji sumber-sumber kajian, dan menempatkan sumbangan-sumbangan Sayyid Abdullah menurut konteks sejarahnya. Hasil kajian ini memperlihatkan bahawa perjalanan karier Sayyid cAbd Allāh menawarkan pemahaman yang lebih baik berkenaan dengan karakteristik pembaharuan Islam di abad ke-19 dan 20, serta peranan komuniti Hadhrami dalam menyebarkan gagasan islāh dan tajdīd di Hindia Belanda. Ia juga membuka jalan bagi karya-karya biografi lebih lanjut berkait dengan tokoh-tokoh masyarakat Hadhrami yang telah memberikan sumbangan signifikan dalam menyebarkan pembaharuan Islam di dunia Melayu. iv APPROVAL PAGE I certify that I have supervised and read this study and that in my opinion, it conforms to acceptable standards of scholarly presentation and is fully adequate, in scope and quality, as a dissertation for the degree of Master of Human Sciences (History and Civilization). ............................................ Ahmed Ibrahim Abu Shouk Supervisor I certify that I have read this study and that in my opinion it conforms to acceptable standards of scholarly presentation and is fully adequate, in scope and quality, as a dissertation for the degree of Master of Human Sciences (History and Civilization). ............................................... Hafiz Zakariya Examiner This dissertation was submitted to the Department of History and Civilization and is accepted as a partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Human Sciences (History and Civilization). ................................................ Wan Suhana Wan Sulong Head, Department of History and Civilization This dissertation was submitted to the Kulliyyah of Islamic Revealed Knowledge and Human Sciences and is accepted as a partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Human Sciences (History and Civilization). .............................................. Hazizan Md Noon Dean, Kulliyyah of Islamic Revealed Knowledge and Human Sciences v DECLARATION I hereby declare that this dissertation is the result of my own investigations, except where otherwise stated. I also declare that it has not been previously or concurrently submitted as a whole for any other degrees at IIUM or other institutions. Alwi Alatas Signature …………………………… Date …………………….. vi INTERNATIONAL ISLAMIC UNIVERSITY MALAYSIA DECLARATION OF COPYRIGHT AND AFFIRMATION OF FAIR USE OF UNPUBLISHED RESEARCH Copyright © 2007 by Alwi Alatas. All rights reserved. CREATIVITY IN PRIMARY SCHOOL STUDENTS IN NATIONAL AND ISLAMIC RELIGIOUS SCHOOLS No part of this unpublished research may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise without prior written permission of the copyright holder except as provided below. 1. Any material contained in or derived from this unpublished research may only be used by others in their writing with due acknowledgement. 2. IIUM or its library will have the right to make and transmit copies (print or electronic) for institutional and academic purposes. 3. The IIUM library will have the right to make, store in a retrieval system and supply copies of this unpublished research if requested by other universities and research libraries. Affirmed by Alwi Alatas. ……………………………. ……………….. Signature Date vii ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Through this acknowledgement I want to thank several individuals who have contributed in the process and the finalization of this study, especially my supervisor Prof. Dr. Ahmed Ibrahim Abu Shouk, Ass. Prof. Dr. Hafiz Zakariya, Dr. Wan Suhana, Prof. Dr. Hassan Ahmed Ibrahim, and all my lecturers at IIUM which I could not mention one by one. Special thanks are dedicated to my mother who always prays for the success of her son; to my cousin Hamid bin Hashim Alatas and my brother Idrus bin Hasan Alatas, whose supports had helped me continuing my study; and also to my friend Yudi Hartono, my uncle Farouk Shahab, my cousin Zein and Fikri al-Munawwar and my best friend Adam Bilfaqih. This study could not be finalized without helps of Abdullah b. Abbas Alatas and Zaid bin Husin Alatas who had patiently share their information about Sayyid Abdullah to the researcher. Some other information had been received from Lubna and Zena Alatas as well. Several problems the researcher encountered regarding the primary sources, which mostly written in Arabic and Dutch, was also solved through the help of Modhaa Munjid and his father, Prof. Munjid Musthafa, Habib Ali al- Hamid, Ghazi al-Aydrus and his mother, Taufik al-Macky, and also Sarwedi. Finally, I really appreciate Dr Sumit Mandal's attention and support, and also Prof. Huub de Jonge’s. Regarding Dr. Mandal, we did not have enough time to discuss this research since we meet in the end of my study period. However, his support has really motivated me to continue my research and study. To them I want to say a lot of thanks. May Allah gives all of you the best rewards. viii TABLE OF CONTENTS Abstract ……………………………………………………………………...…... ii Abstract in Arabic …………………………………………………………...…… iii Abstract in Bahasa Malaysia……………………………………………….…..…. iv Approval Page …………………………………………………………….….…... v Declaration Page ……………………………………………………………....…. vi Copyright Page …..…………………………………………………………..…... vii Acknowledgements ………………………………………………………………. viii CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION ………………………………………………… 1 Background ……………………………………………………………….. 1 Purpose of the Study ……………………………………………………… 3 Significance of the Study …………………………………………………. 3 Sources of the Study ………………………………………………………. 4 Literature Review …………………………………………………………. 5 Research Methodology …………………………………………………… 10 The Scope of the Study …………………………………………………… 11 CHAPTER 2: THE EMERGENCE OF ISLAMIC REFORMISM IN THE 19th CENTURY ……………………………………………………………………….. 12 Western Dominance and the Muslim Response ………………………….. 12 The Features of the 19th Century Islamic Reformism …………………….. 17 I. Religious reform ………………………………………………..….. 18 A. Need of purification ……………………………………....…. 19 B. Encouraging ijtihād and discouraging taqlīd ……………...… 21 C. Rational approach in understanding religion …………….….. 24 II. Civilizational Progress ………………………………………….… 27 A. Freedom, justice and the supremacy of the law …………….. 29 B. Unity of the umma: The case of pan-Islamism ……………… 32 C. Development of science and encouragement of rational Thinking ……………………………………………………… 33 D. Industrial, agricultural and economic progress ……………… 35 E. Use of modern institutions: Schools and periodicals ………… 37 F. Gender equality ………………………………………………. 39 CHAPTER 3: THE HADHRAMI COMMUNITY IN THE NETHERLANDS EAST INDIES ………………………………………………………………………….... 42 The Hadhrami Migration to the Netherlands East Indies …………………. 42 The Hadhrami Community in the Netherlands East Indies …………….… 46 The Hadhrami Community and Islamic Reformism ………………….….. 55 CHAPTER 4: FAMILY LIFE AND EDUCATIONAL BACKGROUND OF SAYYID cABD ALLĀH B. cALAWĪ AL-cATTĀS ………………………………………… 66 Family Background …………………………………………………….…. 66 Early Life and Education ………………………………………………..… 70 ix Marriage and Children …………………………………………………..… 73 Wealth and Business Activities ………………………………………..….. 76 Social and Philanthropic Activities ……………………………………...... 77 CHAPTER 5: SAYYID cABD ALLĀH AND ISLAMIC REFORMISM …………. 83 Islamic Reformism in Sayyid 'Abd Allāh's Writings and Activities ……….